X: Mom, this dinner is delicious.
Me: Thanks, X.
X: You mean Tommy (yes, he has currently changed his name- again....think he got this from me....ask, I'll tell you the story some time.)
Me: oh right, sorry- Tommy.
Tommy: Mama, I just wanted you to know that while daddy has been gone you have been doing some good parenting- even though you are alone.
Me:...Thanks Tommy.


What 5 year old says such things?

I am from.....

This is a really cool idea- I wish I could "link" you to where I got the idea but i'm not tech savy.....her blog is owlhaven (http://owlhaven.blogspot.com/) ..... she is amazing. (oh- maybe I did it?) Check her out and see what she is doing over there- pretty amazing stuff and a very cool family.
Here is my crack at it.....
I am from bicycles and toboggans, from Speedo swimsuits and ice-skates.
I am from the white house next to the gulley. Where club houses were built and first kisses were made.
I am from wild daisy’s calling in the wind , the stone driveways and oak trees 100 years old.
I am from big family Sunday dinners and freckles, from women cooking holiday meals and from Men who watch football. From women who wipe faces and iron dresses and from men who roll down grassy hills with their children.
I am from the “please mom one more time" and from the “Dad I didn’t mean to".
From the “my baby you’ll always be” and from “I’ll miss watching you dance”.
I am from Sunday school. My parents being my teachers. Confessions. Being the first female alter server. I am from being removed from the alter because I was a girl.
I am from where Whales used to swim and streets were lined with cobblestone. I am from an enchanted land surrounded by the sea and their stories are told through songs and a pint. From where everyone is welcome.
I am from the first man off of the boat during the war and from a man who chose to have a family AND serve God. From a women who re-found her first love just in time to say goodbye and a man still searching for his identity. From those who once loved each other but still love me.
I am from lined walls of my childhood. From missing photos long thrown out. I am from memories tucked away inside my head. I am from the memories of my family. I am from love.


here is the template if you'd like to try.....
I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

have fun!

Had to have "the talk"....

No- they are too young for "THAT TALK".....but we did have to have the stranger talk. I took my boys to the lake today (sorry those of you freezing in the north) and as we were packing up to leave I noticed an odd looking man and his "friend" were parked right next to me. I'm pretty friendly so I nodded my head in the "I don't know you but have a nice day fashion"....and he asked "do you have any bread or crackers"...I must have raised an eyebrow because he soon followed up with "for the Geese". I said no, sorry I don't. He then offered "oh- they are hungry and we tried to get some bread earlier but couldn't"......Couldn't? why- is there a bread shortage in Florida? Is the price of gas affecting bread being delivered to the local 7-11 down the street from the lake? As he is talking I am getting more alarmed and packing my car faster (Thank God I put the boys in the car and buckled them first). so I quickly look at him and say "oh, sorry". As I pass his window and begin to get into my car he looks at me- no smile- no "this is a joke laugh" and asks....."then, can I have one of the kids"......so it is 11:15 at night and I am still freaked out-of course all of this happens while my husband is away- clear across the country and I hardly know my neighbors. Great. One glass of wine later and every noise I hear is him trying to get into my house- yes, I am that pathetic- years and years of an overactive imagination- but you have to admit- we live in a weird scary society and that was weird and scary. On a very funny note.....my older son X (5years) brought his squirt gun and although I do not allow him to tease animals....he did get one squirt off toward the goose......(boys!)- the goose then got him back by chasing him for 100 feet or so honking his little goose head off!!!!! X was so scared- I did hug him and tell him it would be okay in between laughing my ASS off!!!!!!!! Little man has been teasing him all day too- sad that a near 3 year old got the funny factor!

Rain Rain Go Away...

please come back another day. blah blah- I know we needed the rain- we are on some record for no rain but YUCK- does it have to happen on the weekend- Hubby is leaving for 2 weeks and it was supposed to be a fun weekend at the beach and a picnic....Nope- stuck in doors.

WOW!!!!!

I stalk adoption blogs- and I've come to check the "Rumor Queen's" almost everyday- but today it was crazy in there.....My husband comes home from work everyday asking "so what are the rumors today".....Here is what I likened it to.......When a women becomes pregnant she is pregnant for 9 months. When a couple decides to adopt they are "pregnant" for over a year. When a women goes into labor she is this way for 30 or so hours.....an adopting couple is in labor for 6 or so weeks......either way- they say a lot of mean things due to pain. People can be so mean! I've never seen so many people all struggling to understand the same thing- all wanting the same thing and yet some were pushing others down just so they had something to feel better about. All of the "I deserve this more because...." and "I'm hurting more because".......I understand a women's desire to become and mother and a man's to become a father......I don't think a person can just "decide" that it is worse for them.....most of the people arguing do not even know each other. aghhhhhh as with so many situations in our society we have the opportunity to rise above the situation and come together to support each other.....which, to be fair.....many did. Get angry at the situation....get angry at the injustice of those precious children sitting in a room without a mommy or a daddy to tuck them into bed tonight....don't get angry because someone with 2 bio kids and 2 adopted kids got their dossier logged in before you- one day these people will look back at their actions and be embarrassed.

The measure of a man (or women) is not how we act when things are good- or are going our way. The measure of a human being is how we conduct ourselves when times are hard/bad/difficult. I know these reactions people are having are not driven from meanness but from pain.....I know this is not who they really are.....I hope they don't lose themselves to the journey. I hope it doesn't happen to me.

Kindergarten....

So we just had X's kindergarten orientation. Wow- my baby is going to kindergarten. I nearly lost it when they invited the kids to go play on the playground while the principal spoke to the parents.....okay- I have just over 3 months to "deal".....The school X will be going to is amazing- I'm am so blown away with what they will learn that year. It seems that when I went to school it was 1st possibly 2nd grade when we did some of the skills......He is bright so I'm not worried about him keeping up....just worried about me keeping up! I'm lucky- my sister-in-law has paved the way with her two boys so I can call her and ask for advice!
I have been emailing the agency we will be using to adopt and they have confirmed the wait to be around 12-14 months from LID.....I'm trying to stay positive- we WILL get her.....and plus, more time to save right?- It is amazing to me the time this agency takes with me even though I am not "officially" a client yet- great customer service....something you just don't find anymore. It is refreshing.
UMMMMM did Easter take anyone else by surprise this year? I asked my mom that question and she responded with "well, if you went to church you would have known"......the sad thing is we HAVE been going- so why the shock?......I seriously thought we had another week- the bad thing is this means our company that is coming is closer to arrival too.....three days after Easter.....I don't suppose dust bunnies are considered Easter decorations? I guess I should go clean- and shop for Easter- and.......

My oldest son is one imaginative child......very creative. He makes up games at the drop of a hat and the things that pop out of his mouth floor me......yesterday he was playing "magician" with my younger son......they were waving their magic wands turning each other into funny things.....monsters, yummy snacks, turtles, dogs......it went on and on and they caught me giggling at them which in childland means I obviously want to play- so I was now the target of their magic. The 2 year old turns me into a ball.....so I bounce bounce bounce. The 5 year old turns me into a dinosaur....so I chase and roar.....the 2 year old turns me into a kitten....meow meow meow.....the 5 year old ....and it goes on and on.....the last "change" was when my 5 year old turned me into a tooth- which was followed by "ha ha ha you're a tooth you can't do anything".......ohhhh I say- so you challenge me.......so I chase him around "chomping" singing some crazy song about wanting a yummy snack to chomp on......he turns around and begins chasing me and announces "I am a cavity"! I lost it and laughed for a very long time.....clever kid!
sidenote 1: I have a great husband.....he came home and told me to "take the night off".... who doesn't love to hear that! So what is a girl to do? Shoe shopping of course!
sidenote 2: To Stacey and Aimee- thank you for your comments yesterday- my husband and I are going to sit down this weekend and seriously talk about our options.....we appreciate it!

Scared.....

Wow, reading other peoples blogs is usually very informative but this morning it has really scared me. I know what will happen "will happen" but getting there seems like a very scary roller coaster.....and I get motion sick. These wait times are unnerving for those of us watching- I can't imagine how it feels to be the one waiting. My husband and I originally were planning on applying to our agency April 1st......We were in the process of applying for loans and getting all of the application paperwork together. (Backstory......as of Feb. of this year a LONG 4 year journey of getting out of debt finally ended. ) I got nervous about getting back in- even though this was a good, no great, reason to "owe" -it just didn't feel right to me to bring this little precious girl home to debt. It also did not feel good to create more debt knowing we have two young boys home......we need to begin saving for their future and the future of our daughter.......Other issues that brought me/and eventually us/ to this decision were: my sister is getting married and that is always a HUGE expense (we do not live near where the wedding is so travel is a must....gift....dresses.....tuxes.....bridal shower etc.) My oldest son is starting Kindergarten and I want to be focused on that. We also just moved- my youngest son is just starting to sleep through the night due to the move and to be honest until yesterday I had no idea where the post office was!
Knowing all of these things makes our decision to wait to begin the adoption (until we have the necessary funds (Jan 1, 2007), our sons are settled, blah blah blah...) sound like the right thing to do......However, I find myself second guessing this decision. What if the wait times get longer, what if.....what if......and as my husband reminds me....for every "what if" I come up with that is negative you can turn it around to be positive......the decision is right, I know (during my sane moments) that it is......but now I fear I'll have to wait twice-

My Obsession.....

American Idol.....my guilty pleasure. I have been disappointed the last two weeks. I'll admit, country music is not my thing so it is hard to "get into" the songs- that being said.....doesn't country music have more interesting songs to choose from? I'm finding it hard to believe that the songs we heard last night were the "best of the best"......Taylor was a huge disappointment- but to be fair this was his first performance that wasn't great......Paris was a disappointment too but I'm bored with her anyway. Chris did well considering this is totally NOT his thing......Katherine also sounded good but I did not get the song.....on a funny note: while she was singing my husband asked.....do you think she means the young good looking Elvis or the fat toilet bowl Elvis......he has a great somewhat sarcastic sense of humor.....I love it! Anyway.....Here's to hoping Kelly Pickler goes home- I sure hope that girl has some smart people in her corner. I hate to think what she'll be taken for if she doesn't.
I thought I'd introduce myself during this post......here are a few things about me:
1. I am the oldest of 5
2. I married my highschool sweetheart
3. I have two boys- the oldest starts Kindergarten this August and the youngest will begin potty training this summer
4. I was born and raised in upstate NY
5. I lived in England for almost 4 years.....my oldest son was born there
6. I've been to Africa
7. I am covered in freckles....my children believe each freckle is a sign of a leprechaun kissing you!
8. We are working very hard to save enough money to begin the process of bringing our daughter home from China
9. Our goal is to send in our application to CCAI Jan. 1st
10. I announced at the age of 11 that I was going to adopt a little girl from China.......some dreams do come true!
11. You can often find me dancing in my living room with two very handsome boys- making up our own lyrics to songs in commercials
12. I love books, photography, music, and wine......it depends on the day which I love the most
13. I am addicted to reality TV
14. I love to cook
15. I don't miss working outside of the home (but somedays I miss GOING someplace outside of the home!)

Being a gypsy and waiting......

Moving sucks. I always hate the first 6 months when we move.....and we move a lot. We moved from Colorado Springs. I was never a big fan of the way the Springs "looked"- very flat and brown. But boy, did I have great friends there. They made the Springs "home"- and I haven't had that since we left NY 8ish years ago. Now we are in Florida. I was excited to come here since I'd never have to bundle up and worry about snowdays but man is it hard to meet people. Our neighborhood is one of those new- everything looks exactly the same communities. I joke that the whole street actually leaves for work at the same time- all waving together of course "good morning neighbor", "nice day, hey".......blah blah blah.....nobody plays outside with their kids- what do they do all day? We go to the beaches and we are the only ones there- weird. I know (when I am not feeling sorry for myself) that it takes time and eventually we will meet people- great people I'm sure.....it just sucks getting to that point.